Adjusted Valve- and Attitude…..

Reaching under the kitchen sink last night….to get a garbage bag, I made an unpleasant find- soggy cardboard. This is not good.

Soggy cardboard- and wetness under the sink can ony mean a few things…

1) ” Curious Noah” Has struck again…. finally figured out the cabinet locks- and made a “concoction” of chemicals from under the sink…. I smelled the sog—- Musty? Yes. Chemical ? No. (this is good… it means the mess won’t probably end in a trip to the ER.)

2) There is a leak.

Something interesting, here- DH travels for work…. and seems to me, that he must be the glue that holds this home together- because everytime he leaves….. something goes awry. Springs a leak, or breaks down, or someone gets sick.

Honestly- it ticks me off. See, leaks and stuff- that’s HIS job. Not mine. Where is he when I need him? WORK.

As soon- as the thoughts are in my head- I am reminded- yeah- I’m sure he planned it this way—–a huge conspiracy- loosening pipes- to cause me trouble- as soon as DH leaves… ok- yes THATS Nuts. As I reached for the wrench — I realized I needed an attitude adjustment even more- than a pipe adjustment!

Apparently- that’s what God intended- This time, it starts with a leak. Yipee.

I explore under the sink a bit— I’ve fixed things under there before….. I try too tighten the screw in the handle of the valve—-SPRAAAAAAAYYYYYY. Now, instead of a soggy drippy mess- I have a handle spraying (hot) water. I undo what I did. The spray abates. But, slight panic arises.

So, of course, I call DH. In my way beyond panic- CALM voice.. i ask…. “Where is the shut off valve for the kitchen sink….. the one that isn’t under the sink??????”

DH Mentally traces the pipeline – and tries to tell me where it is…. and I bite his head off when he asks why. It’s noisy in the background—- he’s hundreds of miles away— and I am demanding a schematic for our water-line- over the phone…. I know- I’m nuts. But what else can I do? Besides- I’m still not “adjusted” in my attitude – HE shoud be fixing this stupid leak. So, basically- I’m mad at HIM because the pipes are leaking.

After abruptly hanging up——probably because he couldn’t magically fix the pipes thru the phone….

I used a screwdriver, tighted the handle- then shut off the water under the sink. ” There will be no sink usage until Daddy is home…I announce, to the Boyz. “There, now we ALL suffer- because He’s gone…. that’ll teach him” I think to myself” ……Then, I remember- dishes. DISHES- DIRTY DISHES- a WAY full dishwasher full. No sink- no dishwasher- OR washing by hand……this is going to get NASTY. I’m going to have to DO something.

I don’t care- I’m tired- I go to bed- (kind of) I will just have to call the plumber in the morning…. GREAT, I’ll have to clean the kitchen. Can’t have a plumber see my dirty kitchen…. this is getting worse.

I slept in the living room- so I could “hear” if the pipes fell apart…..( they actually DID do that before) No falling apart— well- with the exception of me— but only momentarily.

I made STRONG coffee this morning- then set about “giving it a shot”… (why wake/pay a plumber— when I might be able to fix it myself?) i took a few minutes to pray—- and felt that attitude adjustment start to take hold… we’re a TEAM… He’s doing HIS job- (which at the moment- is the one he gets paid for) this is just a matter of overlap- OUR pipes need to be fixed— the “designated pipe-fixer” is fulfilling another role- …

I’ll have to take a shot, myself- for our family “team”.

Well- and to avoid having to clean the kitchen for “plumber company” ( yes- thats crazy- I know)

Know what? It felt pretty good. Sometimes I wonder if God allows these challenges… to make us realize the potential we have…. to solve problems, learn new things and find the help we need. And, as an opportunity to appreciate the other team members. To adjust our attitudes.

Appreciate DH? You thought I was just ticked? How did I get there? Well- cause- when He’s NOT here- fixing what goes wrong— etc- I realize how much He DOES do when He IS here! (trust me- he’s had his oppotunities to be adjusted too)

See- we’re not INDEPENDANT ( I just take care of MYSELF) in our marriage—- nor are we CODEPENDANT..(I take care of YOU) .. we’re INTERDEPENDANT. We depend on each other. While, we DO have clearly defined areas of responsibility, – we overlap- and cover for each other, where necessary.

All of which, sometimes- requires an attitude adjustment. Interdependance- in THEORY— sounds great- until a pipe leaks- and DH needs ME to fix it…..because He’s WORKING.

Why? Because I’m human. – because- I want to only have to do my job- not anyone elses. (Like fixing the pipes) I guess- I want to be “part of a team” as long as I’m the one getting the help—- as long as everyone is doing what I need- or want. Yeah, I guess, I’m that I’m selfish.

Good thing God loves us enough- to “adjust” us occasionally!

Funny how a little leak- and experience with a wrench- can adjust so much in ME!

1 Cor 12:12-26

12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.14Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Dear Lord- Thnx for the attitude adjustment— please help me to be a better team member— and to serve- in Joy. I love you Lord- and thank you for my family “Team” and for reminding me how necessary we each are! I love you Lord- amen

Share this:

Like this:

Related

One Response to “Adjusted Valve- and Attitude…..”

Hi there, Tracey in MI. I have you Bloglined so I can read your posts, which I appreciate more than I can express to you in a small comment box, and since I have no idea how to use the MSN Spaces thing and it wouldn’t let me leave a comment, I’ve been an unintentional lurker.

But now I can say hi. “Hi!”

I’m in northern Michigan (where we’re up to 14″ of snow today, so far…) and a knitter/spinner/Christian/homeschooling mom/chief cook and bottle washer. Your blog eloquently addresses so many of the things that go on in Everywoman’s heart. Your vulnerability and transparency bless me every time I read.

Thank you for letting us see what’s inside. Jesus is making you so beautiful.